Assistant Chief of Risk Reduction, Inspections, and Investigations

About the role

The Assistant Chief of Risk Reduction, Inspections, and Investigations provides strategic leadership for programs that protect the community before emergencies occur and help the District learn from those that do. The position oversees community risk reduction, fire prevention and inspection programs, development review, fire plans review and fire investigation, including origin and cause determination. It sits within the District's leadership team and rotates weekly as Administrative Chief on duty.

Key responsibilities

• Shape the District's approach to community risk reduction by identifying emerging hazards, developing mitigation strategies and using data to evaluate program effectiveness.
• Work with planners, developers, engineers, architects and partner agencies on fire protection and life safety requirements for complex commercial, industrial, multifamily and residential projects, including the urban interface.
• Establish the next generation of fire prevention, inspection and investigation strategies and improve existing practices.
• Develop and support personnel through clear expectations, feedback, coaching, mentoring, performance management and succession planning.
• Manage organizational change while maintaining employee engagement, trust and cohesion.
• Build partnerships with regional partners, businesses, public agencies and community members.

Required profile

• Associate's degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Fire Protection Engineering or a related field is preferred; equivalent education and experience may be considered.
• Progressive fire service experience, including significant work in fire prevention, community risk reduction, fire investigation or fire code enforcement.
• Demonstrated experience leading fire prevention, risk reduction or investigation programs and managing personnel.
• Significant experience conducting or overseeing origin-and-cause investigations and fire plans reviews, including complex commercial, industrial and multifamily projects.
• Bachelor's degree and executive-level leadership experience (Battalion Chief, Division Chief, Assistant Chief or equivalent) make the candidate highly competitive.
• Desirable: advanced experience with community risk reduction programs, complex fire investigations, performance-based design, and credentials such as CFI, IAAI-CFI, INVF or a PE license.

Required skills

• Knowledge of community risk reduction, fire prevention and inspection, fire investigation and fire code enforcement.
• Advanced knowledge of the International Fire Code, NFPA codes and standards, and Washington State fire and building regulations.
• Knowledge of fire protection and life safety systems such as sprinklers, alarms, standpipes, smoke control and hazardous materials.
• Leadership, communication and collaboration with elected officials, developers, engineers, architects, businesses and the community.